Tea Area students serve as pages in SD Senate

Two Tea Area High School students recently gained firsthand experience in state government, serving as pages during the fifth week of the South Dakota legislative session.

Senior Brody Miller and junior Jaxon Johanneson were selected to serve in the South Dakota Senate, assisting legislators with daily tasks and gaining a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process. Johanneson also returned to serve on Veto Day, held March 30. Both students were sponsored by District 6 State Senator Ernie Otten.

Otten praised the students for their service and commitment.

“A special thank you to Tea High School students Brody Miller and Jaxon Johanneson for their dedication serving as pages the last week of our legislative session,” Otten said. “The page program is instrumental in helping the legislators in our Committees and on the Floor to get our work done. These are students from our high schools who have high grade point averages and are involved with their classmates.”

The Senate page program offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate directly in the legislative process. Every school district has an opportunity to have students apply for being a page but a legislator from that district must sign off on it. Pages assist with a variety of responsibilities, including attending daily floor sessions, supporting committee meetings, working in the legislative post office, answering phones, and delivering messages to legislators.

Typical workdays begin at 7:15 a.m. and extend until after the legislative session adjourns, often between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Pages must complete all assigned duties before being excused each day.

“Being a page in the South Dakota Senate was a unique opportunity and an unforgettable real-world learning experience,” Johanneson said. “It allowed me to meet so many amazing people and taught me so much about what our state legislature does. It is an experience that I will always recommend to others.”

Students interested in the page program must meet several requirements, including being a junior or senior in high school, maintaining strong academic performance, and securing sponsorship from a legislator. Applicants must also submit a completed application, cover letter, letters of recommendation, and obtain permission from both their school and a parent or guardian.

Each page is provided with official attire for their service, with Senate pages wearing yellow shirts and House pages wearing blue.

The experience provides students with valuable insight into government operations while fostering civic engagement among South Dakota’s youth.